Washing-machine.



PATENTED MARQS, 1903.."

J. GLADWIN. WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 14, 1902. w

NOMODEL.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES GLADWIN, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

WASHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 721,793, dated March 3, 1903. Application filed April 14:, 1902. Serial No. 102,890. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES GLADWIN, residing at 1916 Oumings street, Omaha, in the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, have invented certain useful Improvements in Washing-Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in washing-machines.

The object of my invention is to provide an improvement in that class of washing-machines in which the receptacle is rocked so that the same may be readily operated andin which heat may be readily applied direct to the washing-machine receptacle,so as to eliminate the process of boiling the clothes in a washboiler, as will be described more fully hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings 1 have shown in Figure 1 a central sectional view of awashing-machine embodying my invention, While Fig. 2 shows a top view thereof with portions removed.

In constructing a washing-machine according to my invention I provide a receptacle having a metal bottom and wooden sides, so that the water may be kept warm by means of a burner, and the washing-machine is further provided with a number of air-valves so constructed that a current of air is forced below the clothing to aerate the water, insuring the clothing and fabrics being held loosely within the suds.

My invention further includes a perforated corrugated rub-bottom B, over which the fabrics are forced in rocking the machine in the operation of washing.

In carrying out the aim of my invention I employ a suitable supporting-frame comprising the four legs 9, which are connected at their lower ends by means of the transverse braces a and at their upper ends by means of the longitudinally-disposed horizontal brace members 5' 5.. Secured to the upper frame members 5 and centrally of the frame are two similar plates 6',each plate being provided with two laterally-proj ectin g lugs e,as is shown I in "Fig. 2. Depending from and pivotally secured to each lug e is a hanger D, which is perforated at its lower end, so that each hanger is adapted to engagealug f of a plate 7, as shown in Fig. 2. 7 It will be noticed that the lugs f are very much farther apart than the, upper lugs e, so that these hangers are held at an angle and inclined away from one another downwardly, as is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. These plates 7 are in turn secured to the wooden sides A of my washing-machine receptacle, and these sides are approximately oval-shaped, as shown in Fig. 1. These sides are each provided with a groove adapted to receive a curved metal plate 0, forming the ends and bottom of my washing machine receptacle. In order to keep these sides A bound tightly against the sheet-metal bottom forming the body of the receptacle and ends, I use a plurality of suitable bolts p, as is shown in Fig.- 1. At their upper edges the sides A are connected by the transverse members 3 and 3, as shown in the drawings, which are slotted on their lower edges to receive the ends of the sheet-metal section 0. Each transverse member 3 and 3 is provided with an opening 4:, as is shown in Fig. 1, which is closed by means of an ordinary valve 5, lightly held in place by means of a spring 6, as clearly disclosed in Fig. 1. Between the transverse members 3 and 3 is held the lid 1, which is secured to the member 3 by means of the hinges 2, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, while the member 3 is provided with a suitable catch 20, adapted to work over the lid and keep thesame in a closed condition.

The legs 9 are braced by means of the boards shown in top view in Fig. 2 and in dotted outline in Fig. 1.

The lid 1 is provided with a sunken handle 19, as shown in Fig. 1.

The receptacle hangs freely, being supported by means of the hangers D, and may be easily rocked .To facilitate the rocking of the receptacle, however, I provide the projecting bars K, which are suitably secured'to the sides A by means of the brackets 10, as shown in Fig. 2, and at their upper ends are connected by means of the transverse handle L, as shown in the drawings.

In order that the suds within the receptacle may be kept warm, I provide an ordinary gasolene-burner 17, of any approved construction, from which extends a pipe 16, communicatiug above with an oil-reservoir 15, provided with a filling-opening closed by means of the cap 8. It will be noticed that in this construction I provide an interior false bottom spaced from the metallic bottom or body 0, this false bottom being corrugated and being provided with a plurality of air-escape openings or, as shownin Fig. 1. Upon the inside the sides A are provided with a plurality of verticalrub-bars 0, adapted to assist in agitating the fabrics during the washing process.

The transverse member 3' is provided with the vertical bar 14, held by the bracket 13, so that an ordinary wringer may be secured to this washing-machine.

Secured to the lid 1, preferably near each end, are one or more transverse strips 8, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, adapted to prevent the lid from warping, and which are provided with an eyebolt 0, adapted to engage a ring 1, secured to a bar 2, holding a corrugated bar 13', so that this corrugated bar swings freely within the machine and is adapted to come in engagement with the fabrics.

Now in using this washing-machine a suitable amount of water is placed within the receptacle, preferably hot. The clothing and other fabrics are then placed within the receptacle with such detergents as may be used, when the burner 11 is lighted and the machine is then in condition for operation. In rocking the machine from side to side the water as it is forced toward the lower part of the machine creates a suction of air through one of the valve-openings 4, this air coming in the space between the corrugated false bottom 13 and the body member 0, finding escape through the openings 00. As the machine is next rocked in an opposite direction the air is compressed at that end and finds an escape again through the openings or, so that in the process of rocking this machine the air is being drawn in and compressed and forced through the perforations a: to prevent the fabrics from packing and to aerate the suds. The fabrics at the same time are brought in contact with the corrugations, the vertical rub-bars, as well as the swinging corrugated bar 13.

Positioned below and secured to the members 3 and 3 and so positioned as to cover the slot formed between the lid 1 and these members are the transverse cleats 7 and 12, as is shown in Fig. 1, to which are secured the upper ends of the false bottom B, which snugly fits against the sides A to provide a practically air-tight space between the body member C and the false bottom B. These cleats cover the lid-cracks and prevent any water splashing through the same.

Having thus described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent, is-

In a washingmachine, the combination with a lid-closed receptacle, an interior corrugated and perforated false bottom spaced from the bottom and ends of the receptacle the top of said receptacle being provided at each end with a valve-controlled inlet opening into the space between the ends of the receptacle and the false bottom, vertically-disposed rubbars secured to the sides of the receptacle, a pendent corrugated rubber within the interior of the washing-machine receptacle, a support for the receptacle, and means for rockably mounting the receptacle on said support.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

J AMES GLADWIN.

Witnesses:

WYKE ELLIOTT, GEORGE W. Sons. 

